CCA BULLETIN / BULLETIN DE LA CCA

AND THEY'RE OFF!

The country goes to the polls on June 28th.   And the CCA is ready!

Ottawa, May 25th 2004 - As indicated in CCA Bulletin 19/04, Culture's Just "Squeaking By" , the key message that emerged from the 2004 Chalmers Conference was the requirement for a commitment by the federal government to adequate, stable, multi-year funding for the arts and cultural sector as a whole.  

Election materials now available

A compendium of election materials has been developed to assist CCA members and others in getting the message(s) across.   The materials are available, in English and in French, by clicking on the "what's new" button at www.ccarts.ca .   These include:

• a short-list of six current cultural issues, comprising a brief background and relevant questions to ask the various candidates
• an election primer to assist with how, when and where to get your messages across, together with important links to other advocacy sites, the major political parties, and more
• user-friendly statistics to help inform your messages and questions
• a selection of "arts for life" stories, firmly positioning the arts and culture in the wider social context
• pithy quotes on the value of the arts in society

Riding information

CCA can provide you with information regarding cultural grants that have been awarded in your riding over the past year (using the old riding boundaries); please contact Philippa Borgal (extension 19, philippa.borgal@ccarts.ca ) or James Missen (extension 14, james.missen@ccarts.ca ) for details.   A chronological list is also available on the Canada Council website.   This information is useful in pointing out to candidates the importance of culture in your community.

Information on who is running in which ridings is also available at the CCA offices; contact either Philippa or James.

Next steps

The CCA will contact the major political parties in order to obtain their cultural platforms, which will then be developed into a matrix for CCA members to readily compare and contrast the various promises and positions (or lack thereof).

CCA will add to and update its election material as required throughout the 2004 federal election period.   Stay tuned!

For more information:

Kevin Desjardins

Communications and Public Relations Manager

(613) 238 3561 ext.11

Fax (613) 238 4849

info@ccarts.ca

www.ccarts.ca

24/04

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